MAORI CHARGED

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1929, Page 3

MAORI CHARGED

SEQUEL TV DRINKING BOUT

(By Telegraph—Per press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 20.

Wbeii -a; Maori gud. visited the house of Jo!ijft:HuitlJ.jiMid;Mrs Hunt, a Maori cpnphq.tiying iicitY jHawera, at da.v-by-.-.alt :pn ;; Auguptj '20,...5he found the doors locked. Hunt caictl from inside, and told her. toTeiim'b through the Window. ‘ She d-lil 'so, and she found the whole house in confusion. Biood ...was splashed, in all. directions, and furniture was smashed. Mrs Hunt hue quo wrist slashed to the bone, and she Was faint from loss of blood, and Hunt had a slight cut on one wrist. Hunt, was very drunk and the woman was in ‘a‘-state of collapse. The girl immediately ran for hel- . Tire, sequel was heard in 'the Suprqme . Court to-day,.- when- HunO--vva*-charged on four counts, namely attempted murder; assault with intent 'to. do. bodily harm; assault causing bodily harm; and that he caused bod--ily- harm so that' -if-' the woman"-had died, he would have been guilty ol manslaughter. - Tlie evidence was given that tin couple had been drinking in Hawcra: and that in the house three beer"’demijohns were found. ' '

Dr Sinclair said the man was very drunk and the woman had had' liquor, hut her condition wars so low that i> was difficult to say how much. AU"' TT,, nt took advantage of her privilege as wife, and refused to give evidence against her husband. Mr E. M. Beechey, for the accused, said the evidence was purely circumstantial, and there was no one to say what actually occurred in the house during the night. Their wrists might have been cut by broken glass in the window.

Mr Justice MacGregor directed tlm jury that Hunt could not be convicted on the first and second counts, as ho was obviously too drunk to form any kind of intention. All the evidence was pilwily circumstantial. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts; and accused was discharged.